An appeal to Jehovah's judgment; God's vindication

The key to Psalm 16 was in the words, "In thee do I put my
trust"; to Psalm 17, "Hear the right." In Psalm 16 we have seen the
blessed path and working of that spirit of confidence. It is,
though the same spirit works in the remnant, essentially applicable
to Christ Himself in Person. Psalm 17 doubtless applies to Him
also, but not so entirely so. It is on somewhat lower ground,
though one on which the Spirit of God speaks. We see distinctly
that it contemplates others, though not without Christ, in verse
11. "They have now compassed us in our steps." Still, Christ is
found here: without Him none really could say to purpose, Hear the
right. It is an appeal to the judgment of Jehovah, God, coming
forth to vindicate the righteousness of Him that cries to Him. The
godly remnant will be, in the main, delivered from their deadly
enemies. Jehovah will arise and disappoint them.

Still, some will fall, even of the wise (Dan. 11: 35) Christ
Himself, the perfect One, though for more glorious reasons, still
in sympathy with His people, did. Hence the righteousness goes
higher up than the present deliverance by God's government of the
godly remnant on earth, to a result true of Christ, and a comfort
for the faith of all those who may fall under the oppression of the
enemy. "I will behold thy face in righteousness; I shall be
satisfied when I awake up after thy likeness." This is fully true
of Christ, who is before His Father in righteousness, and is the
very image of the invisible God He in whom He is displayed in
glory. But He traces the path He trod as the righteous One on
earth, in the midst of evil, and where He underwent the temptations
of the enemy. First, there was perfect integrity of heart, and that
in the most secret thoughts of it. There was purpose not to
transgress. In obedience the words of God's lips guided Him; and
thus the paths of the destroyer were never an instant entered on;
the words of God's lips never lead there. This the Lord showed in
His temptation in the wilderness. In the paths of Jehovah He looked
to Him to hold up His goings. This is a part of righteousness in
man dependence. He called on God, sure that He would hear Him. This
is the confidence we have. Such was His path.

Perfectness of moral character giving nearness of confidence
and sense of preciousness to Jehovah

He applies it then as the ground of looking for the intervention
of God's power to protect Him as He does those that trust in Him
from the wicked that oppressed Him. Prosperous and lifted up as
they were, Jehovah was His refuge when He did not yet
interfere. But He looked to His openly doing so. Remark that the
perfectness of moral character gives nearness of confidence and
sense of preciousness to Jehovah. Even in us God would have
this. We are of more value than many sparrows the very hairs of our
head counted. Here it is perfect, and He looks to be kept as the
apple of the eye that which is most preciously guarded by him whose
it is.

Prosperous oppressors; death and another world

After all, these prosperous oppressors were but the hand of
Jehovah men of this world, who got all heart could desire from the
outward providence of God. But what a lesson among Jews, whose
legal portion was blessing in basket and store and children!
(Compare the parables of Dives and Lazarus, and of the unjust
steward). Here then the breach with this world, and a place in
glory in the next, are fully contemplated. Jehovah's face in
righteousness, and likeness to Him when thus woke up into another
world, were well worth the portion of the men of this world. But
here, mark, death and another world are contemplated, though
deliverance is also (the remnant being more distinctly brought
in). It is the same as we have seen in Matthew 5, where also both
are contemplated. We have thus, in this first book, the Jews at the
end of days, but in circumstances analogous to what Christ's life
was, that is, moving as godly ones in the midst of the wicked
people.